A few dozen players will sign contracts with NBA teams in the next few weeks as teams add bodies for training camp, but those camp invitations aren't the only shot many of them will have at sticking with an NBA team this season. Nearly half of the 32 players who signed 10-day contracts last season were training camp casualties last fall. Another 10 were in camp with an NBA team and made the regular season roster before getting cut and later signing at least one 10-day deal.
In some cases, that's the plan all along. Teams often sign players for camp with no expectation that they'll make the regular season roster. Instead, NBA clubs will retain their D-League rights and carry those guys on their farm teams so they'll be ready when injuries or other circumstances create an opportunity during the season. Not every training camp cut is willing to toil in the D-League while they wait for a second-chance, as some of them prefer to play overseas for more money. Still, the allure of the NBA is such that many will do whatever's necessary for a second chance.
Here's a breakdown of last-year's 10-day signees, grouped by those who were in camp and failed to make the opening-night roster, those who made the team out of camp but were later waived, and those who didn't attend camp.
Attended camp, got cut (14 players)
- Josh Akognon
- Lazar Hayward
- Damion James
- Chris Johnson (of Dayton)
- Chris Johnson (of LSU)
- Travis Leslie
- Jerel McNeal
- Shelvin Mack
- Shavlik Randolph
- Henry Sims
- DaJuan Summers
- Terrence Williams
- Chris Wright (of Georgetown)
- Jarvis Varnado
Survived camp (10 players)
- Lou Amundson
- Josh Harrellson
- Terrel Harris
- Kris Joseph
- Dominic McGuire
- Scott Machado
- Jannero Pargo
- Jeremy Pargo
- Donald Sloan
- Maalik Wayns
Didn't attend camp (8 players)
- Chris Andersen
- Justin Dentmon
- Mickael Gelabale
- Juwan Howard
- Mike James
- Kenyon Martin
- Malcolm Thomas
- D.J. White
The Hoops Rumors 10-Day Contract Tracker and RealGM.com were used in the creation of this post.